Nail fungus is a disease that causes many problems for people. Severe itching, burning, cosmetic problems associated with the unpleasant appearance of the claws are not the whole list of problems caused by this disease. The longer you ignore the problem, the more advanced the disease will become and the appearance of your nails will become uglier. Moreover, gradually the whole body will be poisoned by waste products of fungal microflora. But how can we not neglect the initial stage of nail mycosis, which is much simpler and cheaper to treat than the advanced stages? It is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of not only the nails, but also the skin of the hands and feet. In this article we will talk about how not to start the disease and what to do at the beginning so that your beautiful pink nails do not turn into the crooked claws of Baba Yaga over time.
Why does the initial stage of nail fungus occur?
Older people and people with weakened immune systems are more often affected by the infection. At the same time, no one is immune from fungal diseases: even a child can "get" an unpleasant disease.
Fungal spores are ubiquitous in the modern world, are extremely tenacious and survive on the soil surface even at low temperatures. But above all they "love" heat and humidity, where they reproduce extremely quickly. Warm public places, where there is a lot of foot traffic, are the fungus' favorite habitats. Baths, saunas, swimming pools, fitness clubs - as soon as a person affected by the fungus visits these places, tiny flakes of skin infected with the infection appear on almost all surfaces. Imagine how often you visit these institutions and consider yourself very lucky if you are reading this article for the general development, and not for the need to treat mycosis at the initial stage.
Sometimes it is enough to walk barefoot in the bathhouse or put on someone else's flip-flops and you can make an appointment with a dermatologist or mycologist. Of course, you should not worry in advance: the infection takes root in the body if a person has a weakened immune system or there are cracks, calluses or wounds on the skin. By the way, public transport, which we use several times a day for a long time, is also a dangerous habitat for fungal spores.
The disease can be "contracted" in a beauty salon, and both customers and employees are exposed to this danger. The use of poorly sterilized instruments often causes fungal infections.
Many chronic diseases can also cause unpleasant illnesses.
Even wearing uncomfortable, tight, airtight shoes made from non-natural materials often causes an unpleasant infection. In such shoes, the foot sweats and a very favorable environment for fungal spores appears.
Signs of nail plate fungus
The initial stage of onychomycosis fungus is most often not noticeable, so inattentive people can notice problems with nails when the nails are already severely destroyed, and the treatment will cost a tidy sum.
So what symptoms of nail fungus on the hands and feet can be detected almost immediately? In the initial stage of the fungal disease, the nail retains its usual pink color, the nail plate is smooth and shiny. Gradually, the nail structure partially thickens, laminations and small destructions appear. There are different types of fungi, each of which can present specific symptoms, but there are common signs of a fungal disease.
How does nail fungus start on toenails and toenails? The symptoms are more or less the same: when the nail plate is still smooth and pink, the initial stage of the fungal infection can be recognized by severe itching. The affected areas are itchy, which makes it very difficult to carry out normal daily activities. Itching and burning can be felt both directly on the nails and on the skin. Often a sharp, unpleasant odor appears.
The skin between the toes becomes red and irritated. Gradually, the natural shine disappears from the nail plate, it becomes cloudy and it is difficult to see the nail bed through it. The nail becomes bumpy, bumpy or wavy, which can be clearly seen both by touch and visually. A gap appears between the nail and the bed, which is easy to notice. Some areas of the nail become yellowish or even brown.
The initial stage of mycosis of the nail plate can sometimes be detected by peeling and brittle nails. Of course, peeling your nails does not always mean that your nails are "sick", but often this is a harbinger of a fungal infection. In addition, we have already said that the spores of the infection penetrate through damaged skin.
What does toenail fungus look like: the early stage? Photos will be no less informative:
Nail fungus - the initial stage looks like this: the nail also becomes uneven and dull, and whitish spots also appear. Most often, this type of disease is found in women with "active" arm. The right hands of right-handers are especially susceptible to this unpleasant disease, since they spend most of the time in an aggressive environment, causing rapid thinning and destruction of the nails.
A change in plaque thickness in the early stage of a fungal infection is typical of the nails, hands and feet. Depending on the type of fungus and the causes of the disease, the plaques can thicken or, conversely, thin.
Photos of fungus on nails in the initial stage are no less impressive:
Treatment of nail fungus in the early stage
Like other diseases, nail fungus responds best to treatment in the early stage. In this case, you can get by with products for external use, which, by the way, are not cheap. There are many local remedies available to correct the problem. The earlier the procedures are started, the less likely the infection will develop further.
The drugs are applied directly to the nail or the skin near it. Varnishes against nail fungus are effective remedies that act quickly and are very easy to use. Such preparations penetrate deep into the nail and, thanks to their consistency, remain on it for a long time. Drugs are selected based on the type of fungus.
Antifungal drops also penetrate deep into the nail tissue and also have a wide selection of products. They disinfect nails, kill bacteria and prevent fungal spores from multiplying. The drops will help cure the initial stage of nail fungus.
Lotions are less common but can also be effective early on. They act on the surface of the nail plate.
Nail fungus creams have become widespread. Mainly intended for the treatment of skin around damaged plaques. With their help, infections are prevented from spreading to undamaged areas, including new nails.
A special spray is used to prevent the disease and as part of therapy. Or they take care of their feet and shoes.
The initial phase of mycosis is treated mainly with local drugs; if the disease progresses, doctors prescribe drugs to be taken orally. Such drugs are effective if a small part of the nail plate is affected by the infection.
Modern medicine offers a wide range of means to eliminate the disease. An expensive but effective method in the initial stage is laser therapy. Devices with laser radiation are directed at the damaged areas.
The initial stage of nail fungus may require as few as 4 of these procedures. But this method must be used in combination with the drugs described above.
Ozone therapy involves the saturation of tissues with ozone. Special injections are administered into the skin near the affected nail. This procedure helps to delay the development of the fungus and prevents the multiplication of its spores.
Of course, you should not forget about folk remedies for treating nail fungus at the initial stage. There are many. Traditional methods are good because they are easy to use and economical. For example, treatment of fungi with salt and soda is quite effective in the initial stage of the disease.
Prevention measures
The fungus is very difficult to cure: it requires a lot of time, effort and money, and treatment sometimes drags on for many years. Therefore, it is necessary to take precautions so as not to "catch" an unpleasant disease.
It is extremely important to maintain personal hygiene: never wear someone else's shoes. When you go to a shoe store, only try on your own socks, don't use the ones offered by the sellers. Obviously you can't try on the shoes barefoot.
It is necessary to wash your hands thoroughly with soap after traveling on public transport. It is best to wash your nails with tar soap. Use preventative measures, there are many. Treat your shoes regularly with antifungal sprays.
When going to a beauty salon, it is best to always have your own set of tools with you, which must be disinfected regularly.
It is important to wash socks and tights daily, remembering to iron them well afterwards. Bedding should be washed frequently at high temperatures.
If the fungus affects your nails, you need to protect your loved ones from the same fate. The fungus is not transmitted through close contact between a sick person and a healthy person, but can easily spread through shared objects and surfaces. Regularly treat the bathroom with disinfectants: the tub itself, carpets and floors.